1965 T-Bird trunk lid won't open?

[Richard Rogers]

Hi, My trunk lid is refusing to open on my 1965 t-bird convertible. When I press the switch inside the car the trunk will open a tiny bit and then I get a loud thudding sound. Any advice on what is wrong or how I could fix this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Richard

[YellowRose]

1965 T-Bird trunk lid won't open?

Hi Richard,

One of the guys on here who has a lot of experience with convertibles and the motors and servos that open that trunk and puts up the top (though he has a '60 as I recall) is John Byers. byersmtrco PM him and ask him if he can give you some advice as to what might have happened. It sounds to me like one of the servo motors that causes the trunk lid to release has gone out on you. I think there is a manual way to release the trunk lid, but I am not sure. John probably knows.

[YellowRose]

1965 T-Bird trunk lid won't open?

Hi Richard,

I just talked with Grif at Bird Nest. 800-232-6378. He is their convertible guy. He said they have run into this problem many times on these convertibles. What probably has happened is that there is a limiter switch inside the passenger side of the trunk by the screw. That might be out of adjustment or has failed. That switch activates the pump which causes the trunk lid to open up, if I have this right. He said what they do when this happens is to get three guys. One on the trunk button on the dash to push on it as needed while the other two guys take each side of the trunk opening, and slowly and gently see if they can raise it up on its own without damaging anything. He said they can usually get it open about a foot or so. If they can open it some, they put something in the gap to keep the trunk from closing again, while they trouble shoot that limiter switch, the pump, or whatever they can get to.

He said if you need more help to call him and he will see if he can talk you through getting it open fully, and finding out what went out on it. Hope this helps.

[KULTULZ]

As I remember...

I was introduced to these systems when I first started at a dealership (many light year ago), there was a 64 BIRD with a continual problem. At the top of each quarter wheelhouse was a cap screw that when removed would allow the lid to be raised manually.

It must be described in the shop manual.

[Richard Rogers]

Thanks for the info. I have ordered a shop manual and am going to try the suggestions given. Hopefully, one of them will work for me.
Richard